jmbfestool
Member
Davej said:
Thank you thank you thank you [not worthy]
Lack of 110v options on some tools ( uk)
- Thread starter carlb40
- Start date
Thank you thank you thank you [not worthy]
Dan1210
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- Mar 19, 2011
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Just my 2 cents here, i have been using 110v for about 10yrs, recently i have been working with a friend who owns 240v festools. On a current job he had his ts55 set up, rather than get my 110v out of the van i used his to cut some oak tops to length.
Immediately i was surprised to find the 240 version more powerful cutting the top far easier than mine.
Also i bought the of2200 in 110v, i had have conversations with jmb regarding the power of this router but have been slightly disappointed with its power if im honest, it doesnt seem any more powerful than my old dewalt, im a kitchen fitter so cut a lot of tops.
Im thinking about going 240 now as i dont do site work anymore but for me the improved power of the ts55 would be an upgrade.
Immediately i was surprised to find the 240 version more powerful cutting the top far easier than mine.
Also i bought the of2200 in 110v, i had have conversations with jmb regarding the power of this router but have been slightly disappointed with its power if im honest, it doesnt seem any more powerful than my old dewalt, im a kitchen fitter so cut a lot of tops.
Im thinking about going 240 now as i dont do site work anymore but for me the improved power of the ts55 would be an upgrade.
jmbfestool
Member
Dan1210 said:
You should try and get your hands on the 240v OF2200 router you shouldn't be disappointed with the power. It would be interesting if you could get your hands on one and find out.
I think Deansocial has 110v OF2200 so next time I see him I'll see if we can test them together.
Jmb
jmbfestool
Member
Dan1210 said:
I hear ya. I just don't think a lot of 110v lovers hear us .
Jmb
Nippychippy
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Starting to get a little freaked out with this tread I started out getting 240v Festool stuff and to what I am doing at the moment I have to get 110 because of stupid site rules I spent a grand a few weeks ago on some tools I got to try out my of 1400 on a mitre for a worktop the dust extraction was good but the router did feel weak it could only take 5mm
carlb40
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Nippychippy said:
TBH i wouldn't worry. So the 110v tools are not as powerful, i have never had an issue with lack of power. I'm not a fan either way over voltage, i have 110v tools as all my work is site work. While the 1400 may do the job on worktops, i would get something bigger if doing them on a regular basis.
I haven't done too many worktop mitre joints, but those i have done with my PC 7539 i have only ever done each pass at about 6mm at a time. [embarassed]
CrazyLarry
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Perhaps some of the misunderstanding with 110v is the assumption that it's the 110 voltage that confers a safety advantage.
It's not quite that simple; firstly the transformer is centre tapped to earth and secondly the 'live' and 'neutral' are actually two phases either side of earth at 55V rms each. This means that a short through you from one of those will give you 'only' 55V.
At 55V humans have a much higher survival rate because we are better resistors (non-linearly) at low voltages.
In addition to which the isolation by induction given by the transformer is also important. In essence it means when bloke A chops through a cable, the short he creates doesn't endanger bloke B indirectly unless he is sharing the same transformer. Even then between either line and earth is 'only' 55V.
So there are valid justifications for it's use on H&S grounds.
L
It's not quite that simple; firstly the transformer is centre tapped to earth and secondly the 'live' and 'neutral' are actually two phases either side of earth at 55V rms each. This means that a short through you from one of those will give you 'only' 55V.
At 55V humans have a much higher survival rate because we are better resistors (non-linearly) at low voltages.
In addition to which the isolation by induction given by the transformer is also important. In essence it means when bloke A chops through a cable, the short he creates doesn't endanger bloke B indirectly unless he is sharing the same transformer. Even then between either line and earth is 'only' 55V.
So there are valid justifications for it's use on H&S grounds.
L
AlexThePalex
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55v does sound pretty safe. I still wish somebody knew where to find actual figures for the number of accidents happening with 110 versus 220 volt. I cut through a 220v cord 2 weeks ago with a hedge trimmer. The current was cut off by the fuse before I even realised it. There was no danger to me, not for a millisecond.
Dan1210
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Re the of1400 for tops, i had one briefly and while it will cut a nice joint it will take quite a few passes, a nice router for sure but being a kitchen fitter first and foremost it was no good for me, i returned it after cutting one set of tops. The of2200 is great for tops and nice extraction too.
Its not that i find the 110v underpowered but once i used the 240v ts55 it was fairly obvious, certainly when cutting 40mm oak tops, oh and the electronic brake is a nice feature too.
My 110v kapex also has moderate power in my opinion and after my recent burnout im very cautious to use it on anything but light trim.
Probably picking up the 240v milwaukee 216 as im doing a bit of framing now and the kapex is being wrapped in cotton wool.
Its not that i find the 110v underpowered but once i used the 240v ts55 it was fairly obvious, certainly when cutting 40mm oak tops, oh and the electronic brake is a nice feature too.
My 110v kapex also has moderate power in my opinion and after my recent burnout im very cautious to use it on anything but light trim.
Probably picking up the 240v milwaukee 216 as im doing a bit of framing now and the kapex is being wrapped in cotton wool.
jmbfestool
Member
Alex said:
Exactly! I have done the same many times.
Also I left my extension lead out in the rain before then fallowing day tried to use it the fuse board instantly tripped.
Only injuries I have ever heard of by 240v isn't from tools but from people hitting cables in the walls, ceilings and floors.
Only protection between you and the cable is the tool being double isolated unless you was holding the metal part of the tool.
Jmb
Ugh!
Just came across this while trawling the net in general trying to see if I can justify changing £4-£5k worth of tools to 110v.
Tomorrow I'll probably be buying a Bosch job site saw and the rotex 150 and the guy I do most of my work for said "you should really start changing over to 110v".
This does and always has angered me for a load of reasons.
In this case, mostly because he's kind of right (lots of work coming up next year which will be mostly site work) but also because his own set of tools including the transformer itself is falling to bits with wires hanging out of parts or insulation missing from other bits! Mine, 240v they may be, but are clean, well treated and all packed away carefully in they're respective systainers.
But with most middle of the range sites, no one actually bothers to see PAT test results from all tools and individually inspect them, they're just interested in seeing a load of little yellow boxes everywhere.
So rules is rules - I get chucked off site and he gets to work hassle free with his delapidated selection of death traps.
But good luck to him and the rest. I'm safe, clean and pretty good at what I do (even if I say myself) and if a site doesn't want me because they're following some select part of the HSE guidelines that just barely covers their arses from the insurance people then it's their loss as far as I'm concerned.
I probably will buy 240v tomorrow because, as has been mentioned here, the 110v stuff bogs down in my experience and the transformers are heavy (especially the massive ones recommended for the Kapex and probably the job site saw I'm after).
I may regret it next year but not as much as I'd regret the huge financial implication of changing everything I currently own.
There, rant over.
Just thought I'd join in the voltage debate while I'm sitting here feeling bitter about it all.
Just came across this while trawling the net in general trying to see if I can justify changing £4-£5k worth of tools to 110v.
Tomorrow I'll probably be buying a Bosch job site saw and the rotex 150 and the guy I do most of my work for said "you should really start changing over to 110v".
This does and always has angered me for a load of reasons.
In this case, mostly because he's kind of right (lots of work coming up next year which will be mostly site work) but also because his own set of tools including the transformer itself is falling to bits with wires hanging out of parts or insulation missing from other bits! Mine, 240v they may be, but are clean, well treated and all packed away carefully in they're respective systainers.
But with most middle of the range sites, no one actually bothers to see PAT test results from all tools and individually inspect them, they're just interested in seeing a load of little yellow boxes everywhere.
So rules is rules - I get chucked off site and he gets to work hassle free with his delapidated selection of death traps.
But good luck to him and the rest. I'm safe, clean and pretty good at what I do (even if I say myself) and if a site doesn't want me because they're following some select part of the HSE guidelines that just barely covers their arses from the insurance people then it's their loss as far as I'm concerned.
I probably will buy 240v tomorrow because, as has been mentioned here, the 110v stuff bogs down in my experience and the transformers are heavy (especially the massive ones recommended for the Kapex and probably the job site saw I'm after).
I may regret it next year but not as much as I'd regret the huge financial implication of changing everything I currently own.
There, rant over.
Just thought I'd join in the voltage debate while I'm sitting here feeling bitter about it all.
Job and Knock
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That's a shame considering the USA has a 120 volt version already - and many tools in 110 volt here in the UK from other makers appear to be little more than rebadged 120 volt versions. Part of the reason that large site guys like me want 110 volt is that 230 volt simply isn't available anywhere on site - it's all 110 volt drop boxes (transformers - often 10 to 20kVA) within the protected site environment. Getting permission to run a 230 volt tool through a 110 to 230 volt step-up transformer involves lots of time, effort and paperwork (risk assessment, method statement, insurance assessment plus proof positive that no other reasonable or viable alternative can be found) with no guarantees that your submissions will be accepted. It's a royal PIA! And that's before you end up having a PAT test done every 3 monthstoolfest.co.uk said:
As to 110 volts having a lower wattage - consider the capacity of a 16 Amp socket (16 x 110 = 1760 watts) and the reason becomes a bit more obvious.
